Friday, August 4, 2017

It has been quite a harrowing few weeks for Brandy. Though she has adored living in Lakeview these past 10 years, she felt she needed to move on to bigger and better things (specifically, a bigger and better kitchen). So recently, Brandy uprooted herself into a new place a little farther north, where she could enjoy a little more peace and quiet as well as a bit more room to stretch.

Of course moving house is never an enjoyable business. There's always that strange in-between period of living out of boxes and bags and feeling lost in one's own home. For that reason, Brandy has kept a few very specific things by her side to help with the transition.

A recent addiction to cold brew coffee led Brandy to Tall Tale Coffee, a local employee owned company with a store front cafe in Ravenswood. Through their home base, Tall Tale Coffee delivers their signature cold brew to doorsteps around Chicago. Eight cups of smooth, toasty coffee come conveniently packed in a fridge-friendly box with a spigot built right in, enabling the coffee to be poured and enjoyed straight away. Best of all, one can set up a subscription that will deliver a box every week, two weeks, or 4 weeks automatically. Brandy found this ready-to-go coffee invaluable during all those early morning unpacking sessions. She even got a code for her loyal readers to use in order to get their first box free when they sign up for a subscription: BUNNYBRANDY

In order to being her long days of packing and unpacking, Brandy had to load up with not only lots of caffeine for energy, but also protein. For this, she would quickly prepare what she liked to refer to as a Bibimbap Breakast Bowl using authentic Korean products from Sunny's Korean. Using a traditional bibimbap as inspiration, Brandy would quickly saute veggies like mushrooms, zucchini, and napa cabbage, using a touch of vinegar, sesame oil, and the Kimchee Seasoning to add spice, salt, and a touch of sweetness all in one go. She also loves to marinate thinly sliced beef in the Korean Teriyaki sauce and quickly cook it up with a little garlic and ginger. Finally, she'll whip up some simple scrambled eggs as a base (in place of rice in a traditional bibimbap), then add the beef, cooked veggies, some fresh veggies like sliced radish and baby spinach, and top everything off with a sprinkling of sesame seeds. The result is a protein packed bowl of deliciousness that can be enjoyed hot, cold, or can be stored for a few days in the fridge to intensify the flavors.

Of course, all that protein and caffeine can't last all day, so a little sugar rush in the middle of the day is usually needed, and that is when Brandy found herself reaching for goodies from Everton Toffee Company. Inspired by a recipe created in 1753, Everton Toffees come in two different forms; Butter Toffee Caramels and toffee and nut covered pretzels. The caramels are soft and chewy and perfect for a quick hit of buttery goodness, while the pretzels are the ultimate in sweet and salty snacking. As tasty as they are on their own, Brandy's favorite way to eat these crunchy little delights is with ice cream. The salt on the pretzels goes incredibly well with a good quality vanilla, while the nutty, buttery flavor of the toffee is excellent with dark chocolate, meaning the ideal pairing in Brandy's professional opinion is a vanilla chocolate chip.

Finally, after a long day on her feat, Brandy likes to relax with a nice cocktail. Recently she's become a big fan of 1893, an all-natural sugar sweetened soda based on Pepsi's original recipe. The cola comes in four varieties; Original, Citrus, Ginger, and Brandy's favorite, Black Current. The fruity, more mature flavor of the soda makes it a perfect cocktail mixer, and Brandy's preferred cocktail to mix up is her play on a Whiskey Seduction, which she likes to call a Polite and Consensual Whiskey Conversation. The drink starts with 2 oz's of vanilla scented whiskey in a tall glass, then a few sprigs of basil are muddled into the liquor, followed by two ounces of a fruity red wine, then four ounces of the Black Current cola, ice, and finally, a squeeze of lime juice. The result is a smooth, sophisticated, and slightly sweet cocktail that fits any occasion, from a summer evening relaxing on the porch to a vibrant dinner party (or in Brandy's case, an early afternoon curled up in an arm chair, knitting and watching a baseball game).

The writers of this blog were provided with products by the companies mentioned free of charge in order to facilitate the writing of this post.

Friday, July 28, 2017

This week we have a very special sponsored guest post from our friends at Limo 312. Enjoy their fabulous brunch tips! -B&B

There's no meal quite as magical as brunch. In between breakfast and lunch, it's the perfect way to enjoy a second breakfast without feeling any guilt whatsoever! Chicago is an especially great city to look for this trendy meal. It seems like there's constantly new eateries popping up around town who offer this meal, and it's not just reserved for Sundays anymore! The next time you're solo or with a group of friends looking to enjoy the freshest brunches in the Windy City, be sure to check out some of these sought after destinations.

It will be hard to leave this Lincoln Park Cafe without a full stomach! With French toast flights and BYOB mimosas, it's an impressive choice for any day. There are some flavorful savory options to enjoy such as the Black Salmon or Chicken and Waffles. It's not uncommon to encounter a long line at this local business!

Chicago Diner
This option has been serving up meat free dishes since 1983, and that's quite impressive. Plant based diets are much more popular nowadays, but this spot has been bumping even when they were just beginning their journey. Serving both vegan and vegetarian options, you'll wonder why it took you so long to eat here, especially after trying out their famous breakfast bowls and vegan cinnamon rolls.

If you want sophistication on the menu along with creative dishes, this gastro pub in Chicago is always a safe choice for brunch. With a locally sourced menu serving brunch from 9am to 3pm daily, you can feel good spending your money here! Their PBR breakfast comes with two eggs, your choice of meat, house potatoes, a can of ice cold PBR and a shot of whiskey. Now there's a great way to start your day!

You don't have to limit yourself to one brunch destination. Make a day out of adventuring through the city and enjoying must-visit food destinations along the way with the addition of a party bus or Chicago Limo Service. This is a smart idea for many reasons! Not only will someone else be taking care of the designated driving, you aren't going to have to give directions, parking, or traffic a second thought. You don't have to limit yourself to with one restaurant or lounge when you have transportation reserved for the day!

Friday, July 21, 2017

"Two words: Hen Night," Brandy said to her good friend Starr. "What does that mean? Are you asking me to go out for fried chicken?" "No, silly, a Hen Night! You know, with cocktails and gossiping and lots of fresh summery nibbles?" "Oh! A Girl's Night Out!" "Right! We call them Hen Nights on my side of the pond." "Gotcha. Where should we go?" "Somewhere downtown with a lovely view so we can people watch. And somewhere with an extensive and varied menu so we have lots of options for snacking. And fantastical drinks, of course. Comfy seating." "Sounds like somewhere we both know very well. Grand Lux Cafe it is!"

And so, Brandy and Starr headed down to the Magnificent Mile, grabbed a prime booth by the window overlooking Michigan Ave, and started off a night of frivolity and a whole lot of inappropriate giggling.

Drinks were in order, of course, to kick everything off. Brandy went with the classic Mai Tai, which she found to be perfectly fruity and delicious. Starr went for the more sophisticated sounding Asian Pear Martini, which she actually found quite sweet and strong, but with a pleasant flavor at the front.

Picking from the new summer items, Brandy and Starr ordered the Tuna Poke Tacos, a delightful fusion of Latin and Asian cuisine. The taco shells were actually deep fried wonton wrappers, which had a brilliant crunch that matched well with the soft and silky filling of tuna, avocado, soy sauce, and sesame seeds. "Now these are the definition of finger-licking good!" said Starr as she finished off the last of her taco. They also ordered the Pot Roast Fries, which Brandy instantly fell in love with. "Tender meat, cheese sauce, and crispy potatoes. This speaks to the most primal part of my soul," she said as she stuffed another handful of fries into her mouth.

Next, to lighten things up, they split one of the new summer salads, which came dressed with roasted pears, strawberries, feta cheese, and almonds, in a balsamic dressing. Brandy has always been a big fan of fruit in her salad, so this mix of sweet, creamy, and crunchy ingredients was just perfect for her.

Starr went for the Fish and Chips as her entree, which also came with a side of peanut coleslaw. The fish was tender and light with a nicely crisp tempura batter. She also liked that the dish came with a side of house made tartar sauce, which combine well with the lashings of vinegar she added to the fish. The slaw was also a nice little surprise, as it had a unique peppery flavor and plenty of crunch.

Brandy went with the new Brie and Bacon Burger. The combination of the melty brie cheese, the smokey bacon, some peppery greens, creamy mayo, and a sweet red onion jam was so utterly perfect in Brandy's mind. Of course, the combination of the sweet and savory flavors was an instant hit, but Brandy also really liked that no one thing really overwhelmed anything else. As a side dish, Brandyalso ordered the Crispy Glazed Brussels Sprouts, which turned out to be the best thing she tried all night. Sweet, a little crisp, savory, and so very delicious, Brandy could have eaten several more servings of these sprouts if she hadn't already indulged in so much deliciousness.

Finally, the ladies wound down their evening out with a pair of coffee cocktails and an order of Warm Butter Cake. The rich and gooey cake was so perfect with a scoop of vanilla ice cream and a sprinkling of marinated strawberries as accompaniment. Even though both ladies were full to the brim, they still managed to finish off every last bite of that cake, which is certainly saying something.

"Ah, we need to do this more often!" Brandy sighed with contentment. "Not too often though," said Starr, "Otherwise you're going to have to buy me a gym membership!"

The writers of this blog were invited to dine by the restaurant free of charge in order to facilitate the writing of this post.

Wednesday, July 19, 2017

Note: The writers of this blog have been compensated by Everywhere Agency for the information contained in this post, but the opinions stated were not influenced.

Bunny has once again returned to the surface for a breath of fresh air, and this time she is coming back into Chicago with a mission. "My sweet tooth is itching," she texted Brandy, "and that means something exciting must be about to take place. You know I don't usually just start craving sugar out of the blue."In fact, Brandy didn't think this out of the ordinary at all. She was rather used to Bunny's near psychic ability in sensing when there is good food to be had. Knowing better than to take her friend's instincts lightly, Brandy began researching, and quickly realized that there was indeed something exciting on the horizon. "Your sweet tooth never fails," she text Bunny, "Seems Chef Dana Herbert is hosting a big-to-do at Macy's. Can you get to Chicago by next week?" "I'm already at the airport," was Bunny's quick reply.Bunny had been a fan of Chef Herbert ever since his big win on Cake Boss: Next Great Baker, where he first demonstrated his knowledge, artistry, and passion for pastry to the public. But it's not just the sweets Chef Herbert is good at; he is also trained in culinary arts, meaning he can pretty much handle anything thrown in his direction. His cookbook, Sweet and Savory Union, therefore could not be a more perfect for Bunny and Brandy, who live their lives by the principles of finding the perfect balance between savory and sweet.On July 28th at 12pm, Chef Herbert will host a free fun-filled event in the Culinary Council test kitchen on the 7th floor of Macy's on State, where he will demonstrate some of his favorite award winning dishes and serve them to the gathered crowd before heading down to the lower level to sign cookbooks and hobnob with foodie fans (you can even get one of Chef Herbert's cookbooks as a free gift by making a $35 purchase from the Macy's Home Department the day of). Anyone can attend the free demo by RSVPing in advance by calling 1-800-329-8667. For more information on the event, please visithttp://bit.ly/Herbert17and to learn more about the Macy's Culinary Council and all future events, please click here

Friday, July 14, 2017

It was a quiet Sunday morning and Brandy was sitting on a bench, feeding pigeons with crumbs from her day old scones. Across the way, she spotted an intriguing figure, also seated on a bench, but uninterested in the pigeons. The woman was dressed all in black, from her skin tight leggings, to her long sleeved turtle neck, to the beret that sat jauntily atop her mop of flaming red hair. In one hand, she held a cigarette, which was trailing a thin stream of smoke into the wind, and the other hand held a paperback copy of The Stranger in front of her face. "That's a lovely book," Brandy called to the woman, "Though I do think the narrator gets a bit pouty at times." The woman lowered her book and took a long drag of her cigarette. "You're a fan of French existentialism?" she asked. "I was in my youth, but as I got older, I learned to stop brooding so much and just enjoy myself." "I envy you, mon amie. With the state of the world these days, I find little time for anything but worry." "Understandable. I worry too, sometimes, but then I just head out for some sunshine and a good meal and that normally does a great deal of good for my state of mind." "And what do you suggest for someone who is eternally trapped in the black and unrelenting prison that is their own mind?" Brandy paused to think, throwing a handful of crumbs to the pigeons. "A stiff drink," she said at last, "And I don't mean that frivolously. Often, I find the way out of a sticky situation is to do something I find uncomfortable in order to change my way of thinking, and that means a little bravery is needed. When the will isn't strong enough on its own, a decent dose of liquid courage can help. What makes you uncomfortable, friend?" "Happiness," drawled the stranger reading The Stranger. "Well, let's find a way to make you uncomfortably happy," said Brandy.

Seeing as how they just happened to be right outside the venerable bastion of French fusion cuisine known at The Blanchard, Brandy asked her new friend to join her for a meal. The woman, as it turned out, was named Blette Bleunoir, and though her dower continence remained, she accepted Brandy's invitation with a nonchalant shrug of her shoulders.

The Blanchard's classic style and open floor plan put them at ease right away, as did the soft, icy blue color scheme.

Taking a page from her own book, Brandy picked up the cocktail menu straight off and ordered the Lady Dynamite Mimosa, a turn on the classic brunch cocktail that included encapsulated bubbles of yuzu juice. Brandy found that the cocktail had a lovely, sophisticated flavor to it that had a soft vanilla finish and pops of extreme brightness from the yuzu that really woke up the palette. Blette went for the house Bloody Mary, which was surprisingly made with a watermelon gazpacho base and a cucumber infused liquor. Blette very much enjoyed the mix of sweet and refreshing flavors that really set this drink apart from other bloodys, but the fact that the spices were still present meant that the cocktail hadn't strayed too far from the shaker. In fact, this cocktail was so unique that Brandy ended up ordering her own, making this only the second bloody mary in history that Brandy enjoyed enough to finish a whole glass of.

Blette allowed Brandy to order them a couple of starters to set the tone of the morning; the Oeufs à la Yvettes “Egg Tart” and the Grilled Spanish Octopus. Octopus is something that pushes Brandy's comfort levels, as she usually convinces herself that she doesn't like it, but almost always enjoys it once she's had it, so she thought it was more than appropriate for demonstrating her point to Blette. From the moment this dish hit the table, Brandy didn't need any convincing. Beautifully plated and accompanied by some charred kumquats and fire roasted salsiy, the octopus was so tender and succulent that it barely needed to be cut with a knife. The char on the meat itself brought a lovely note of wood smoke and a subtle hit of chili spice kept each bite surprising, as did the little sour punch from the kumquats. The egg tart, in contrast, was much more subtle, with a rich buttery crust and a silky interior that simply melted away on the tongue. The poached shrimp on the top was so tender and perfectly cooked that Brandy and Blette found themselves in a silent battle over the last piece of it.

Blette, challenged to order something that would invoke feelings of happiness, warmth, and comfort, asked for the Croque Madame as her entree. The classic breakfast dish featured a good slab of smoked Nueskes ham with melty Gruyère and came smothered with morney sauce, which was then brûléed, and topped with a perfect over medium egg. Brandy detected the slightest hint of a smile forming on Blette's mouth as she took bite after bite of the cheesy, meaty dish. "This reminds me of my mother," she said at one point. "Did your mother used to make this for you?" Brandy asked. "No, my mother didn't cook," Blette replied, "But just as everything here is in perfect balance and nothing is over powering anything else, so too was the balance my mother tried to maintain between all fifteen of us in the family." "Goodness, you had a lot of siblings!" "No, mon amie, I am an only child. It was my parents and I and a dozen French bulldogs."

Brandy, stepping firmly into her comfort zone for her entree, ordered the Blanchard Burger. The sheer size of the thing was actually quite intimidating, but after one bite of that juicy, flavorful burger, Brandy was filled with joy that she would be able to make this particular dining experience last. The meat was perfectly cooked and had been topped with ooey gooey butterkase cheese, shallot confit, a creamy garlic aioli, and a thick hunk of bacon. The bun was soft enough that it didn't overwhelm everything else, but still had enough structure to convey the burger to one's mouth without loosing so much as a drip of cheese. Brandy rather appreciated that the burger came served with a few tiny cornichon pickles, which served to cleanse the palate every few bites. The garlic aioli was the thing that imparted the most flavor into the burger, but Brandy has yet to turn her nose up at anything with a heavy garlic flavor.

Lastly, the two ladies combined for a little sweet and savory experiment, ordering the Citrus Zest Crepes for dessert, but adding some seared foie gras to top them off. The result was indeed a very unique experience, between the eggy crepes, the rum spiced caramelized banana filling, and the rich and buttery foie. Blette thought the combination worked rather well texture wise, while Brandy really liked the way the vanilla flavor that had been infused into the bananas carried over to the rest of the dish. "Normally, combining sweet and savory elements makes me quite anxious, but I'm glad we tried this," said Blette. "Oh darling, sweet and savory are what I live my life by," Brandy replied.

The Blanchard made quite the impression on Brandy with their stunning presentation, their creative turns on classic recipes, and most of all with the incredible value of the dishes (most were under $20 a plate) when the portion sizes and the quality of the ingredients were put into consideration. The service had also been extremely helpful, as Brandy had relied heavily on some of their waitress's recommendations, meaning this brunch was darn near perfection in Brandy's mind. "Well, mon amie," sighed Blette as she adjusted her beret, "If I may say so, it was a very good thing that we came across each other this morning." "Are you saying you are happy you met me?" Brandy grinned, her eyebrow raised. "I suppose," Blette drawled. "Does it still make you uncomfortable to be happy?" asked Brandy. Blette considered this for a moment. "Yes," she replied, "But luckily, happiness is fleeting. Soon, I'll be right back to feeling comfortably melancholic." "A few more of these watermelon bloody mary's and you'll be able to stave that off for at least the rest of the afternoon," said Brandy.

The writers of this blog were invited to dine at the restaurant free of charge in exchange for an honest review.The Short and Sweet Review

Friday, July 7, 2017

It's not an uncommon site to see Brandy sitting at the counter of her local tea shop, sipping on the latest exotic blend in order to determine whether or not she needs to buy a bag's worth to add to her tea chest. It was one of these typical late mornings that a mysterious stranger wandered into the tea shop and took the seat beside Brandy. They smiled politely at each other. They eyed each other's cups of tea. Then, just as Brandy was about to finish off her last sip, the stranger reached out with a bejeweled hand and snagged the cup. "Interesting," the stranger intoned in a soft voice, "I see that you are about to take a trip across the city." "Are you reading my tea leaves?" Brandy asked. The mysterious woman smiled, slyly. "Of course," she said. "What rubbish," Brandy scoffed, "I don't believe in any of that heebee jeebee nonsense." "I also see here that you are a great lover of food," said the woman. Brandy rolled her eyes. "And that you are about to eat one of the best pancakes you've ever had." This caught Brandy's attention. "Really? Where?" "I'm not sure," said the woman, squinting, "I see pizza paddles and a bar and... that's odd. A pizzeria? Why would a pizzeria be serving pancakes?" "Ah... I think I know where that is. Would you care to join me?" "It would be my pleasure."

The stranger, as it turned out, was a woman by the name of Belladonna Blabrun, who made her living in the acquisition and sale of fine healing crystals and all natural tinctures. Brandy was still skeptical about her purported clairvoyant skills, but she was intrigued, as the woman's clues about the restaurant with the pizza paddle led them to Forno Rosso in the West Loop, an up scale pizzeria that had recently started a rather unique brunch service. "I'm not sure about those tea leaves predicting a legendary pancake, but I suppose anything is possible," Brandy said.
With all of the pricey, upscale restaurants in the area, Forno Rosso felt welcoming and unpretentious in comparison. The windows that surrounded the dining area made everything feel open and breezy, while the mix of reds and browns in the interior gave a cosy, rustic impression.

Right away, Belladonna and Brandy spied some promising items on the cocktail menu. Belladonna went with the Grand Mimosa, which was a traditional mimosa with the addition of some raspberry peach liqueur. While the mimosa did taste a bit sweeter than a typical mimosa, it just wasn't quite unique enough to catch Brandy's full attention. Instead, she went with the F'rosé, a whimsical concoction of rosé and raspberry sorbet. Though not normally the type of brunch cocktail Brandy gravitates towards, she found that she rather liked this outlandish pink drink and thought that it was utterly perfect for summer.

Belladonna and Brandy decided to start with a pair of savory shareable plates, accompanied by a bowl of roasted olives for snacking. First up was the Burrata Avocado Toast. Normally, Brandy is a little put off by avocado toast ("It's a lovely dish, but it's usually under seasoned and over priced," she says) but the addition of burrata straight from Italy seemed to set this one apart. Indeed, the silky, creamy cheese did add some pizzazz to the foundation of avocado and focaccia. Belladonna liked the halved cherry tomatoes as well, which added a much needed brightness to each bite. Next, they shared the Breakfast Pizza, a show piece for the restaurant's wood fired Neapolitan style crust. The pizza came topped with fresh mozzarella, scrambled eggs, more cherry tomatoes, and grilled asparagus. Brandy found the toppings to be in perfect balance, providing just enough vegetation to keep it light and enough cheese to keep it satisfying, while the crust had a brilliant chew and char to it.

Next, they moved on to a pair of eggy entrees; the Prosciutto Frittata and the Eggs in Purgatory. Belladonna very much enjoyed the Eggs in Purgatory, which consisted of three eggs poached in a slightly spicy tomato sauce that was so delicious and deeply flavorful that she couldn't resist scooping up forkfuls of it even after the eggs were gone. Brandy found her frittata to be a little on the salty side and a little dry, but otherwise quite good. It had a fluffy texture to it, which contrasted well with the pieces of mushroom scattered throughout it.

Finally, they ended their meal with a pair of sweet dishes: The Nutella French Toast and, of course, the fabled Wood Fired Pancake. The French toast had an excellent texture that was at once soft and chewy, but still held together under the weight of all the toppings. The Nutella made the dish down right decadent, while the bananas helped to elevate it from a sweet dessert to a true breakfast item. The pancake, though, was the star of the morning. Existing in the nebulous space between flapjack and Dutch Baby, this pancake came served in a skillet, puffed to perfection in the same wood oven the pizzas were cooked in, and topped with whipped cream and marinated cherries. The texture was almost creamy on the interior, making it very unique, and the cherries had just the right amount of tartness and sweetness to really elevate the flavor. "I've never had anything quite like this!" exclaimed Belladonna. "Surprisingly, neither have I," said Brandy, "Now this little dish truly is magic."

Brandy was very pleased to have discovered a such a casual brunch in the West Loop, but one that was still full or surprises and ingredients of excellent quality. Oddly, the dishware was worth taking special note of, as it's bright colors and retro patterns really did help to invoke the feeling of being served in the kitchen of a Neapolitan grandma. "Praise Mother Earth, am I glad I decided to read your tea leaves," Belladonna said to Brandy, "I've never experienced a meal quite like that one in all my years." "Stick with me, sweetheart, and you'll see all kinds of indulgent brunches in your future," Brandy winked.

The writers of this blog were invited by the restaurant to dine for free in exchange for an honest review.

Friday, June 30, 2017

"I am strung tighter than a rubber band holding together a jet engine!" Brandy moaned to her friend Starr one day. "What could you possibly be so stressed out about?" Starr laughed, "All you do is go out to brunch! That's what most other people do to relax when they're stressed out." "But brunch is precisely what's got me in such a tizzy! There's a lot about brunch that is stressful," Brandy pouted, defiantly, "What if I over order and can't taste everything at it's freshest? What if I over balance the sweet to savory ratio? What if I opt in for bottomless mimosas and don't drink enough of them to cover the cost? There are just so many things to think about when you're regarded as one of the city's ultimate brunch experts!" "Alright, alright, chill. I think that your problem is that you've gotten too bogged down by your own criteria. Tell you what, let's go to brunch, but this time, maybe put all your rules and procedures aside. Just go as a civilian for once instead of a brunch expert. Maybe then you'll remember what brunch is supposed to be about."

Agreeing to try and let go of some of her tightly held brunch traditions, Brandy accompanied Starr to Davanti Enoteca in River North. They were pretty smitten straight away by the retro posters that adorned the walls of Davanati Enoteca, giving it the feel of a neighborhood joint that had been there since the beginning of time. The brick walls and distressed woods and metals also created a warm, friendly atmosphere, as did the open and spacious seating arrangement.

"First order of business, no mimosas or bloody mary's," said Starr, "You have to go outside of the norm." "But... but... just look at that make-your-own-bloody-mary bar!" Brandy whined. "You don't even like bloody mary's!" "Fine. How about... ooo, there's something called the Davanti Spritz that sounds interesting!" And indeed, the spritz was quite lovely, with a bright citrus flavor from some some blood orange juice, pleasantly fizzy from a splash of Prosecco and soda, and sweet from an Aperol finish. Starr eyed Brandy as she happily sipped her large glass of spritz. "That sounds suspiciously like a mimosa to me," she said. "I don't know what you mean, dear," Brandy replied, airily. Starr chose the Cider House Mule, a Moscow Mule given a little twist by the use of a cherry apple cider instead of ginger beer. She found the cocktail very fruity and effervescent, and while she detected the cider flavor right away, she couldn't taste much of anything else.

Round one of their brunch then began with a pair of items from the Insalata and Antipasti sections of the menu: some Crispy Brussels Sprouts and the Truffle Egg Toast. Though Brandy has had many a crispy brussels sprout for brunch before, she usually reserves that particular delicacy for autumn and winter. "We're breaking traditions today, remember?" Starr reminded her. The brussels had an intense flavor that bordered on being a little too salty, as they had been mixed with crunchy bits of fried prosciutto, but the addition of a sunny side up egg really helped to tame them. The toast was a unique surprise, with it's aromatic waft of truffle oil spreading across the table the moment it was set down, to the compact and unique appearance that was somewhere between eggs in a basket and a savory French toast. "It certainly is a nice change of pace from avocado toast," said Starr. Brandy liked it as well, especially its melty fontina coating and the little bits of asparagus that dotted the plate, providing a burst of color and a respite from the otherwise rich dish.

Next, they moved on to some pasta, specifically some Gnudi Pomodoro. The gnudi were incredibly light and airy, and matched well with the dollops of fresh buffalo mozzarella, shreds of basil, and a slightly spicy sauce that really kept each bite from getting boring.

Starr picked the Prosciutto and Egg Sandwich as her entree, which came with a side of roasted tomatoes. She likened the massive sandwich to an Italian version of a croque monsieur, as the prosciutto had been placed between the two pieces of Tuscan toast, but the egg had been put on top, accompanied by a creamy sauce, making it more of a fork and knife affair. She found the amount of bread to be a little overwhelming, especially since she had expected more a hand held sandwich, but prosciutto was absolutely perfect.

Brandy went for the Davanti Burger ("Don't you always order burgers for brunch?" Starr asked. "Perhaps, but this one doesn't have an egg on it. That puts it firmly in the brunch category," Brandy retorted), which came topped with bacon jam, roasted tomatoes, broiled cheese curds, roasted garlic aioli, and fresh arugula. One thing that Brandy particularly liked was that instead of the expected side of fries, she was able to get a mini version of the signature escarole salad as her side. Normally, a side salad wouldn't be worth noting in her book, but this one came dressed with green apples, hazelnuts, a pecorino dotted with black pepper, and celery, and therefore was pleasantly unexpected. As for the burger, the thing was cooked to perfection, with a very juicy patty that had a good salt crust to it, some melty, chewy cheese, and a decent amount of sweetness from the tomato. The true accomplishment of the burger was that the bacon jam didn't overwhelm everything else, which it so often is wont to do.

The brunch menu at Davanti Enoteca was certainly a nice change of pace for Brandy. Very few of the dishes could be pegged as being simplistic brunch staples, as everything had a bit of a creative twist to it, and the preparation of everything was beyond expectations. Though the service moved a little slowly, the servers were all very friendly and had excellent suggestions when it came to the menu. "I'm very proud of you, going out of your comfort zone a little," Starr said to Brandy as they finished off the last of their cocktails. "I'm rather impressed with myself, if I'm honest," said Brandy, "Do you realize we have had nothing sweet at all during this brunch? I can't even believe that I'm not missing the other half of my sacred brunch ratio at all!" Then, after mulling this fact over for a minute, Brandy and Starr decided to head to the Glazed and Infused next door to pick up a donut or two.The writers of this blog were invited to dine free of charge at the restaurant in exchange for an honest review.The Short and Sweet Review

Our Rating System

The greatest meal Bunny and Brandy have ever enjoyed was consumed at a particular Chicago molecular gastronomy restaurant, and therefore they rate every meal and restaurant based on that singular experience of utter gastronomic perfection. Bunny and Brandy rate every restaurant on a scale from 1 to 5 M’s (M stands for the ideal meal mentioned above), taking into account the 6 criteria above.

In Memory

Our Disclosure Policy

This policy is valid from October 1st, 2010

This blog is a collaborative blog written by a group of individuals. This blog does occasionally accept cash for informational posts, but never for reviews or anything that requires an honest opinion. We will and do accept and keep free products, services, travel, event tickets, and other forms of compensation from companies and organizations.

This blog abides by word of mouth marketing standards. We believe in honesty of relationship, opinion and identity. The compensation received may influence the advertising content, topics or posts made in this blog, but never the opinions of the writers. That content, advertising space or post will be clearly identified as paid or sponsored content.

The owner(s) of this blog is not compensated to provide opinion on products, services, websites and various other topics. The views and opinions expressed on this blog are purely the blog owners. If we claim or appear to be experts on a certain topic or product or service area, we will only endorse products or services that we believe, based on our expertise, are worthy of such endorsement. Any product claim, statistic, quote or other representation about a product or service should be verified with the manufacturer or provider.

This blog does not contain any content which might present a conflict of interest.